Washington Shopping Plate Credit Card

The Washington Shopping Plate was a credit card issued to shoppers in Washington, D.C., that they could use to make purchases at local department stores. The first cards were issued in October 1950 and were good at Hecht’s, Jelleff’s, Kann’s, Lansburgh’s, Raleigh's, and Garfinkel's. It was first issued as an embossed metal plate before becoming the blue plastic card seen here. In 1974 a large D.C. retailer began accepting a national credit card (American Express), which signaled the end of the Washington Shopping Plate.